Generic medicines are a core component of India’s reputation as the so-called ‘pharmacy of the world.’ The country has long been-renowned for its exports of affordable medicines to developing nations. As previously reported by Health Issues India, “generic medicines cost a fraction of the monopoly prices charged in countries like the United States, and competition […]
Generics
Jan Aushadhi Diwas: What the Prime Minister said
Jan Aushadhi Diwas celebrations heralded the Centre’s scheme to expand access to medicines – and included a high-profile speech from Prime Minister Modi, in which he extolled the benefits of the initiative. Beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) include both the poor and middle-class, the Prime Minister claimed during a video conference […]
Jan Aushadhi Diwas: Centre expands plans for access to medicines
The Centre will add 2,500 Jan Aushadhi stores to its existing stock by 2020 – with the eventual aim of one store for every block. Jan Aushadhi stores are special kendras (centres) opened under the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pari Yojana Kendra (PMBJPK) initiative, which seeks to expand access to medicines. These centres […]
Generic medicines: Centre pushes for cheaper drugs
In a bid to make generic medicines more eye-catching, the Central government is planning to introduce an innovative marketing strategy to increase their brand awareness among consumers. New Union Health Ministry plans would colour-code generic medicines to distinguish them from their more costly brand-name counterparts. This is in a bid to encourage consumers to make […]
India defies RCEP opposition to generics
India takes a defiant stance against patent laws proposed by the Regional Cooperation on Economic Partnership (RCEP) that could see it lose its trading advantage as the “pharmacy of the developing world”. Hundreds of Indian officials have taken part in RCEP negotiations in South Korea in late October. The negotiations covered a potential free trade […]
India to become the pharmacy of the Philippines?
President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte is keen to capitalise on India’s generic medicines industry. Biateral talks occurred last month between Duterte and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Philippine International Convention Centre in Pasay City. During the talks, Duterte noted the potential of India’s pharmaceutical industry to expand into the Philippines. The proposal came […]
Indian Hepatitis C generics greatly bring down costs
Hepatitis C is a potentially deadly virus that can remain asymptomatic until severe damage has been done to the liver. There are an estimated 9 million people affected by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in India, with 70 million affected worldwide. A recent study has provided information about the efficiency of Indian generic medications in […]
Doctors disagree with enforcement of generics
How has the medical community reacted to forced prescription of generic medication over brand names? The recent intentions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to force doctors to prescribe generics as a means to reduce costs to patients — as previously covered by Health Issues India — has been met with mixed opinions. It was […]